This is my CMC entry.
The 'Gracious Obscenity' is a high-speed racing mech developed by CFS. IGNORE THE STAND... PLEASE...

About this creation

The HV-NCEx.CRP-021.STV "Gracious Obscenity" (High Velocity, Non-Combative Experimental Civilian Racing Prototype, Model 21, Surface Transport Vehicle) is a racing mech developed by CFS after they had witnessed the sport of mech racing on other, nearby planets. Though not a militarized sport, the engineers of CFS used this opportunity to create testing prototypes for extreme-speed mecha units. The 21st prototype model, nicknamed the "Gracious Obscenity", was the most effective design they had tried, and so has been entered in various races. Now broadcasted to worlds rallying under the banner of the CFS empire, the footage of this mech in victory is used as an inspiration to their populations to join the CFS' militia when of age.

The "Gracious Obscenity" is so named because of it's beautiful form being a direct mockery of those of nature. The primary design influence was vaguely avian creatures inhabiting Ceras before the Cataclysm.

Yes, it DOES need the stand, unfortunately. Please don't rate down because of this.
Also, the pilot stubbornly refuses to wear regulation CFS uniforms... something about a long forgotten concept he refers to as individuality...

Main photo sans-Photoshop.

Though largely influenced by the Racer frame conceived of by Legohaulic, it uses an entirely different setup-- I don't like stealing other people's ideas without altering them first.

Yeah, I've seen those before. The shapes are very well sculpted, but if you buy the guns people might think you're trying to have an army of Gears of War soldiers. As for the expense--if you hand-sculpted something like that, wouldn't you want high pay for it?

Quoting Yuri Fassio
Sleek runner.. with an afterburner! :)

Hahaha... Yeah, the idea is that the 'tailfeathers' are an afterburner mechanism. Neat that someone picked up on that.

I just checked the measurements for gear placement/meshing, and they work when I test it, even though I don't have the PF motors. Hopefully you won't run into any problems, assuming you use this design. I have one more idea I'll probably draw out tomorrow, that might be slightly more compact if it works like I think it does.

Quoting Dali Zheng
I got your e-mail, and dang, that is a detailed sketch. I will definitely look over this and credit you, even if I don't exactly use this design. I'm aiming for the most compact design.

Thanks! It's the most compact frame design I could think up, I'll post a new version if I think of anything tomorrow. It also lets you have details between the bogies on each side, on the 2x1 with hole attached to the axle with the 40t gear. It's a little complex, and includes no elements other than what is necessary (so no transitional parts or braces to hold it together, though I recommend a 10x1 plate in a few areas). It does have a parts list, though. And, for the body/battery box connection, I had to guess where the holes would be and if you had those weird little Bionicle parts. Anyways, hopefully it'll work, with a little modification.

Quoting Dali Zheng
BTW, that holonomic tank looks awesome, I can't wait to see the Lego version of it.

Quoting Toby Gorilla Glue
I know from experience to avoid sites like that. Point besides, you've already tried to get nearly a dozen people here on the 'pages to go to that same site. Don't think we don't notice...

I'm trying to make each of its 4 wheels stick outwards while keeping the body tapered. my e-mail is dzheng(curly a)umail.ucsb.edu . Perhaps building a full Technic frame might not be possible, so I may integrate Lego System into the frame.

Quoting Dali Zheng
Agh, I'm just so Technically inept. I could make a good solid frame with suspension, but then it would be difficult to build over it. I might just skip suspension. The shape I'm trying to accomplish is very difficult to achieve using Technic.

Umm, okay. Maybe then use tiny System beams (like 1x2x1 w/ hole or 1x4x1 w/ three holes) to build a firm SYSTEM frame which is directly connected to the motor and gearing system, like I'm doing with the 'Sarpedon'? What is the shape, out of curiosity? This would also help. I'll draw a diagram of what I've been talking about (from start to finish) and send it to you-- what's your E-mail address?

Quoting Toby BiscuitsandGravy
Well, I'm sorry that I ruined your reference, Phong, I'm not trying to do that. You just know quite a bit about TTGL, so I took the opportunity to expand my knowledge of it. Sorry. Also, what's with the name-changing thing when you quote people?

I dunno, I just like to mess with last names sometimes. Check out this anime. It's EPIC! Not nearly as EPIC as TTGL, but you'll love it! http://www.smouch.net/lol Well, see ya guys later. Gotta get some sleep. (And also see you-know-who in first period tomorrow morning!)

Whatever. Good luck with that Phong! Oh, and I'm not going to fall for that, so please stop trying. I've been 'RickRolled' many times, Phong.

Quoting Toby BiscuitsandGravy
Well, I'm sorry that I ruined your reference, Phong, I'm not trying to do that. You just know quite a bit about TTGL, so I took the opportunity to expand my knowledge of it. Sorry. Also, what's with the name-changing thing when you quote people?

I dunno, I just like to mess with last names sometimes. Check out this anime. It's EPIC! Not nearly as EPIC as TTGL, but you'll love it! http://www.smouch.net/lol Well, see ya guys later. Gotta get some sleep. (And also see you-know-who in first period tomorrow morning!)

Agh, I'm just so Technically inept. I could make a good solid frame with suspension, but then it would be difficult to build over it. I might just skip suspension. The shape I'm trying to accomplish is very difficult to achieve using Technic.

Quoting Toby Durgyturg
Umm, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the 'Spiral Recognition' was based on the quantum physics principle that as soon as an object is noticed, it exists, and can be continually traced via EPR-paradox. In the series, this is used by Chouginga Gurren-Lagann and the Cathedral Terra to warp almost instantly to Nia's location[s].

I know, but you just ruined my opportunity to use the reference, regardless of its irrelevence to actual Spiral Recognition.

Well, I'm sorry that I ruined your reference, Phong, I'm not trying to do that. You just know quite a bit about TTGL, so I took the opportunity to expand my knowledge of it. Sorry. Also, what's with the name-changing thing when you quote people?

Quoting Toby Durgyturg
Umm, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the 'Spiral Recognition' was based on the quantum physics principle that as soon as an object is noticed, it exists, and can be continually traced via EPR-paradox. In the series, this is used by Chouginga Gurren-Lagann and the Cathedral Terra to warp almost instantly to Nia's location[s].

I know, but you just ruined my opportunity to use the reference, regardless of its irrelevence to actual Spiral Recognition.

Quoting Toby Bagels
Yaeh. Tahkns. By the way, did you konw taht the hamun biarn can utrndasned wdros eevn wehn the idnivadul ltrtees are in the worng pacles? As lnog as the wrods are the smae lgtneh, and end wtih the smae lteter, the cgitnivoe ctnrees of the biarn flil in the bankls. Ptrety fircik'n aazmnig, huh?

That's Spiral Recognition!!!!!

Umm, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the 'Spiral Recognition' was based on the quantum physics principle that as soon as an object is noticed, it exists, and can be continually traced via EPR-paradox. In the series, this is used by Chouginga Gurren-Lagann and the Cathedral Terra to warp almost instantly to Nia's location[s].

Quoting Dali Zheng
Yeah, I already knew the jumbled-up letters thing. I think I'm going to use rubber band suspension since it's the smallest form factor. I don't have enough universal joints, I have about two. I'm just going to use a bunch of gears to transfer power to the wheels. I might end up suspending only the body and scrapping the independent suspension idea, though. I will not be gearing it down after seeing how powerful the XL motors are.

How would you suspend only the body? Independent suspension with rubber bands is easy, but LEGO rubberbands are way too weak. I'm also not saying to gear it down. How long do you want the 'leg' bogies to be? if you use gears all through them, it'll look bulky and slow your wheels down A LOT due to friction. Instead, gear to whatever ratio you want near the top of the bogie (where it joins to the motor), and then run an axle the long way through (like the driveshaft in a car) to minimize internal gearing and friction. THIS WILL IMPROVE THE LOOK, SIZE AND SPEED OF THE MOC.

Quoting Toby Bagels
Yaeh. Tahkns. By the way, did you konw taht the hamun biarn can utrndasned wdros eevn wehn the idnivadul ltrtees are in the worng pacles? As lnog as the wrods are the smae lgtneh, and end wtih the smae lteter, the cgitnivoe ctnrees of the biarn flil in the bankls. Ptrety fircik'n aazmnig, huh?

Yeah, I already knew the jumbled-up letters thing. I think I'm going to use rubber band suspension since it's the smallest form factor. I don't have enough universal joints, I have about two. I'm just going to use a bunch of gears to transfer power to the wheels. I might end up suspending only the body and scrapping the independent suspension idea, though. I will not be gearing it down after seeing how powerful the XL motors are.

Yaeh. Tahkns. By the way, did you konw taht the hamun biarn can utrndasned wdros eevn wehn the idnivadul ltrtees are in the worng pacles? As lnog as the wrods are the smae lgtneh, and end wtih the smae lteter, the cgitnivoe ctnrees of the biarn flil in the bankls. Ptrety fircik'n aazmnig, huh?

Quoting Dali Zheng
I'll be using beams mostly since those are easier to integrate with Lego System. The PF XL motor is 5x5x5, which is a rather bulky dimension. The battery box is 4x8x6, and the IR receiver is 4x4x3. I don't think I will cover the bottom. I think I'll try to stick the two motors together end on end, and put the battery box and IR receiver as close as possible to the motors to minimize the surface I need to cover. Then, I'll try to make the most compact frame I can.

How tall do you want it to be? These are some pretty big parts, but if you're using beams you might be able to keep the height low. My recommendation is to put the two motors end-to-end, like you suggested, with the battery box on the same level in front (thin side forward) and the IR receiver on the same level behind, or vice-versa. Actually, it might look better in the reverse, with the battery box behind the motors and the receiver in front, as this would let you slope the top up nicely. As for the rest, if you want the wheels out on long, suspension-equipped struts, I have a great idea for how to do it that likely requires pieces you don't have and will have a very hard time finding =(. The parts I'd suggest for suspension are: ---->Universal Joints, for a four-wheeler you need 8, to find these you probably need Bricklink. -Opt01->Shock absorbers, for a four wheeler two or four would work, depending on if you want each 'bogie' (wheel+suspension assembly) to have independent suspension or linked with the other bogie on the same side.
OR OR OR OR OR OR OR OR OR OR OR OR OR OR OR OR
-Opt02-> pneumatic pistons, small, four for a four-wheeler, with complementary tubing. _:_:__:_:_:_
Sorry that my methods for suspension use other parts, you probably don't want to make another order. You could also use rubber bands, or nix the suspension idea altogether, but the only way to transfer power through suspension-jointed legs WITHOUT the use of universal joints could also help you. By placing a gear, rigged up to the motor, directly between the tips of the two bogies, and then having two additional gears in direct contact with this gear ON THE ROTATIONAL AXES OF THE BOGIES (extremely important!), then power can be transferred to the bogies, at a slight cost in terms of speed-- the forces of the gears turning will work against the shock absorbers on the rear bogies going forwards, and the frontal bogies going backwards, thus slightly slowing the TSV. To get power from the motor to the wheels through the struts, use bevel gears to have axles running perpendicular to the direction of the wheels' axles. Did I say all this in a way that makes sense? if not, I can probably draw a diagram tomorrow at school to e-mail to you showing what I mean, but I'd need a specific address. Sorry if I'm no help!

I'll be using beams mostly since those are easier to integrate with Lego System. The PF XL motor is 5x5x5, which is a rather bulky dimension. The battery box is 4x8x6, and the IR receiver is 4x4x3. I don't think I will cover the bottom. I think I'll try to stick the two motors together end on end, and put the battery box and IR receiver as close as possible to the motors to minimize the surface I need to cover. Then, I'll try to make the most compact frame I can.

Oh, and Dali- the mech you inspired me to build is quite possibly the quickest build of it's quality I've ever done. It took slightly over two hours, even though the arms had already been built some time ago. It'll likely be posted soon.

Quoting Dali Zheng http://i43.tinypic.com/ouzhup.jpg those are all the Legos I have. I'm low on useful white pieces and I got my PF parts, and I'm trying to figure out how to make a Technic frame.

I see your RCX-based one in the background =). Anyways, what kind of frame components are you using-- there are beams, which are the normal 1xwhatever bricks with Technic holes in them, and there are liftarms, which are the 1x whatever smooth, usually black or gray parts with lots of holes but no studs. I can't offer any advice if you don't tell me what parts you're going to use. Also, I don't have any PF parts, so if you could throw out the brick measurements (length by width by depth), and the number and placement of the holes, that'd be great--assuming it is advice you want ;).

Quoting Knoll grey
when i name mech/hardsuit, it is the formal title, an actual name would be what the pilot, or others call it. when i see racers of any kind(except podracers,which i am a master pilot thanks to N64, you haven't played a racing game until you have gone 1000 mph on the surface of an asteroid!)i think that they should have a name( like "old mans folly") i don't know, thats just me.

Eh, I guess you're right, but on mine the name in the title is the name people call it. For weapons, though, there are special nicknames because they don't have an official name. See 'Wight Knight' or 'Makai' for an example of this. Also, that N64 Podracing game was good! My friend has an N64, so I've played it. But, as far as racing games go, I'm much better at Wipeout in 1st person.

when i name mech/hardsuit, it is the formal title, an actual name would be what the pilot, or others call it. when i see racers of any kind(except podracers,which i am a master pilot thanks to N64, you haven't played a racing game until you have gone 1000 mph on the surface of an asteroid!)i think that they should have a name( like "old mans folly") i don't know, thats just me.

Quoting Knoll grey
another mechanical wonder! is "Gracious Obscenity" its formal title? or is that its name?

Isn't it the same thing? All my CFS creations have a serial designation followed by the name, and on this the name is "Gracious Obscenity". On this mech, though, I decided to include in the description HOW the mech got the name, which isn't something I've done before.

Quoting Dali Zheng
Think about it, the stand comes out of the crotch area and the base of the stand looks like a splash of _____. It just looks sketchy. Anyways, I can't wait to see more MOCs from you.

Yeah, that was definitely not something I thought of during the design, but whatever, I actually see your point now. I don't really care how I do in the comp, so I don't care if people dislike one of my mechs. You can't please everybody, so what's the point in trying, right? Yeah, ummm, the hardsuit the word 'Brute' inspired me to make evolved into a fully-fledged mecha, with three legs and an @__load of guns. It fills the 'bristling with weapons' niche very nicely, which works because it's a heavy support tank-legged mech. Don't worry though, I didn't go TOO overkill (I think). When I disassemble it, maybe I'll actually make another hardsuit...

Quoting Andreas Höttler
Uhm, well, it´s better than what the most people can do, but I think you could do that better, too. Exept of that Dali is right about the stand...

Again, it's not my best work, and again, I had very limited parts. The stand seems to be bothering lots of people, but I don't see why completely. Maybe it's that the only colors I had to use for the stand were white and black, which are also pretty much the only colors on the mech. Whatever, I don't care if I win or not, it was a fun experiment. I won't be revising the design on this, though, because I'm working on two other mechs and a Metroid diorama.

Quoting Dali Zheng
My Pirouette tank will take forever to build, since I'm Technically challenged (pun intended). I'm planning a micro-scale mecha/hardsuit to complement the Venus Gospel, called the Venus Brute, which will be the main ground infantry of the Venus Assembly.

Venus Brute, huh? Maybe a bulky hardsuit or midget mecha would fit the name, but based on the theme it'll be much nicer looking than I can describe with such mundane terms. For some reason, I have the idea of a gorilla-like hardsuit, with a thick build and heavy armor. Now, I have to build this. Thanks Dali, I already had enough to do!!--Just kidding. Yeah, Technic is weird to work with sometimes. I don't have any PF stuff, so I can't speak for that, but LEGO has been rapidly moving away from the old beams, meaning that System-Technic interfaces are much more difficult than they used to be. Also, maybe you should post a description of this "Venus Assembly" theme you've got going here? It's certainly a very visually appealing theme, and I'd try an MOC in it if I ever got more Lime :{.

My Pirouette tank will take forever to build, since I'm Technically challenged (pun intended). I'm planning a micro-scale mecha/hardsuit to complement the Venus Gospel, called the Venus Brute, which will be the main ground infantry of the Venus Assembly.

Quoting Toby Hamburgers
Oh, it's some saying that adults always use to try and control their children, the idea being that the possibility of danger will scare them into obedience. Or did you mean you wouldn't care if you lost an eye?

That's a ridiculous way of control! Also, I wouldn't need to worry about losing an eye, because not even an atom can fit in my squinty, little Asian eye sockets! LOL!

ROFLMAO! Why is a racist joke like this only ethically OK if it comes from the mouth of the race being insulted? Just something I've always wondered... Anyways-- First Dali Toothpaste, now Toby Hamburgers... Whatever will Phong think up next!?

Quoting Toby Hamburgers
Oh, it's some saying that adults always use to try and control their children, the idea being that the possibility of danger will scare them into obedience. Or did you mean you wouldn't care if you lost an eye?

That's a ridiculous way of control! Also, I wouldn't need to worry about losing an eye, because not even an atom can fit in my squinty, little Asian eye sockets! LOL!

Oh, it's some saying that adults always use to try and control their children, the idea being that the possibility of danger will scare them into obedience. Or did you mean you wouldn't care if you lost an eye?

Pretty much ;]. No, we're all surprisingly good friends for people who've never actually met each other. But hey (as my parents have said to me more than a thousand times), "it's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye", right?

Quoting Dali Zheng
whoa, the stand makes it look like he's urinating or defecating. fits the name well. anyways, interesting design, it definitely looks fast. I really like how you used minifigs as the knee joints, I wouldn't have thought of that. BTW, when do you think you'll be done with your Sarpedon tank?

First of all, LOL! Anyway, I had to make a stand for this mech http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/81284 because I used minifig legs as joints. Not a good idea, they're HIGHLY unstable. Try different joints, Toby.

Quoting T08Y H31N3M4NN (Toby Heinemann...LOL fot LEET!) Wrong mech, Phong. The Lazengann-inspired one is still coming up, and it's black everywhere. Also, I'm not in competition with you (mine fits a fig), and your mech is insanely awesome. Yours is undoubtedly a superior entry, but that hasn't stopped me from trying (at the house with no LEGO, but whatever...)

Well the torso does look Lazengann inspired, so yeah...

What's with the weird spelling of my name Phong? Anyways, I had very, very few parts to work with at my dad's house, so i had to use what was available. That meant either minifig joints or 2x1x1 hinge bricks, which is never a good decision to have to make. But, minifig legs do work fairly well as hip joints, since they can bear a lot of weight at the cylinder head-holding area. The torso I built before even watching TTGL, so how it looks Lazengann-inspired is beyond me...It actually looks more like it's LEGO 19-inspired to me.

Quoting Dali Zheng
whoa, the stand makes it look like he's urinating or defecating. fits the name well. anyways, interesting design, it definitely looks fast. I really like how you used minifigs as the knee joints, I wouldn't have thought of that. BTW, when do you think you'll be done with your Sarpedon tank?

First of all, LOL! Anyway, I had to make a stand for this mech http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/81284 because I used minifig legs as joints. Not a good idea, they're HIGHLY unstable. Try different joints, Toby.

Quoting T08Y H31N3M4NN (Toby Heinemann...LOL fot LEET!) Wrong mech, Phong. The Lazengann-inspired one is still coming up, and it's black everywhere. Also, I'm not in competition with you (mine fits a fig), and your mech is insanely awesome. Yours is undoubtedly a superior entry, but that hasn't stopped me from trying (at the house with no LEGO, but whatever...)

Quoting Phong Chang
Pretty nice! I can see the Lazengann influence in it. Well done, but you're going down!

Wrong mech, Phong. The Lazengann-inspired one is still coming up, and it's black everywhere. Also, I'm not in competition with you (mine fits a fig), and your mech is insanely awesome. Yours is undoubtedly a superior entry, but that hasn't stopped me from trying (at the house with no LEGO, but whatever...)

Quoting Nathan Jones
You can also try an image editing tool to remove the stand. A tool such as Gimp, which is free, is exactly what you need.

I used Photoshop for the main pic. If you want me to edit it out of all of them, I might, but I'll include at least one with it in-- I don't want to send the wrong message. I'm sorry you find it unpleasant...

Quoting mithryl dlarix
Whoa! I'm feeling it! This bad boy is a nightmare. It looks like it would be impossible to hit, like its super-agile. It doesn't look like it could dish out the pain back though. I'm seriously loving the knee joints.

Wow, this is totally contrary to the other comments thus far. Thanks! Yeah, the concept is a highly mobile, unarmed [literally ;)] racer that dodges everything thrown at it. The knee idea is the same as on the 'Wight Knight', but on that I used a slightly more sturdy setup to allow more range of motion too. The minifig bodies work well, partly because I have so many of them and partly because they have a great deal of flexibility and support. Thanks again!

Quoting Nathan Jones
If you're trying to keep the stand as a something that's not part of the MOC, try using a neutral color that blends with the background, like black.

Again, I had almost no parts over break, but I know where you're coming from here. It is kind of distracting, I'll admit, but I couldn't have done it any better with the parts I had, and I wasn't willing to change it. Oh well...

Quoting Nathan Jones
I'm not feeling this one. You've done much better and I think that I'm just not able to pull a form from what you've posted into a single... thing.
It seems too jumbled to me.

I'll admit it's far from my best work, but I still think it has a definite shape. Oh well... I actually made this over Spring Break, and had almost no good parts to work with for the design. I just wanted to post it so I could demolish it ASAP to work on my other new mechs.

Quoting Dali Zheng
whoa, the stand makes it look like he's urinating or defecating. fits the name well. anyways, interesting design, it definitely looks fast. I really like how you used minifigs as the knee joints, I wouldn't have thought of that. BTW, when do you think you'll be done with your Sarpedon tank?

Yeah, ummm.... That's not something I thought of... I was trying to make it as slim as possible, so it'd be easy to edit out later... This is not good at all... As for the rest-- Thanks! The 'Sarpedon' won't be done for at least five weeks, so don't look forward to it too much. What about your project?

whoa, the stand makes it look like he's urinating or defecating. fits the name well. anyways, interesting design, it definitely looks fast. I really like how you used minifigs as the knee joints, I wouldn't have thought of that. BTW, when do you think you'll be done with your Sarpedon tank?